Do you HAVE to be on your back for.....

[StarlightMcKenzie]

assessment of position of the baby when in labour, for blood pressure to be taken and for internals?

Last time I coped really well but nearly lost it during the time on my back for assessment so was just wondering if all these things coukd be done whilst upright.

Tia

I'm not sure about standing up - especially for an internal as they won't want you wobbling.

But I know from experience that it can be done on all fours.

Thank you. What about assessing position of baby ( not that I have any faith after b2b going un dx)

I was able to have internals while kneeling on the bed and supporting myself on the rails at the back, facing the wall.

But I was flipped onto my back for birth (against wishes).

Thank goodness the midwives didn't do all these internals for me! I just laboured, then felt need to push, pushed babies out....was in whatever position I wanted. They monitored me at the beginning for 20 mins after had pessary-was induced both times.After that I did what I liked.

I had my internal checks lying on the bed but they monitored the baby when I was sat still on the birthing ball. I didn't have to be constantly monitored though, just every now and then for a few mins.

I had no internals at my request and I although I did labour in an upright position, they did ask my lay on my back so they could check the position of the baby. That was the most painful bit of the whole birth tbh.

I have no idea why they need you to lie on the back though- could be worth an ask as it could be one of those things that they just do like that because they always have iyswim.

Assessment of fetal position by abdominal palpation is done with you reclined because your tummy muscles can relax and then the midwife can feel the fetal parts more easily and feel how far down in the pelvis the baby's head is. If you were upright or on all fours those tummy muscles are in use and the midwife wouldn't be able to feel much through them. In saying that it's not something I do frequently unless I'm concerned about position/progress. I would ask to do it prior to a VE but again, I'm not a huge fan of "just because" VE's either! The VE (internal) can be done in practically any position, you just need a bendy midwife and a good reason for having it in the first place.
Blood pressure can be done with you siiting or standing although if there are concerns your BP is raised they might want a comparison by doing it lying at rest. Almost impossible in active labour!

Thank you Traffic. That is really helpful. If it is early enough in labour reclining for position of baby will be alright, but I was in transition last time and it wasn't fun at all.

Sorru, meant to ask, - do you need to have abdominal palpation at least once?

I didn't realise you were expecting another baby, Starlight. How lovely .

I had internals squatting when I had B2b labour with DS. TBH I don't remember much interference in the 4 hours I was in hospital.

DD came out too quick :)

Yes. A bit of a scary thought but we're getting used to it .

Most of the fear is that I am expecting in June and have no idea where in the country we'll be living. Circumstances are a bit odd, so birth preparation is pretty impossible except to say with certainty that for the 4 days preceding the due date I'll be in a tent in Bracknell (which incidently is not part of my birth plan).

Congratulations on the pregnancy and yikes at the tent!

just for internals surely?

she could have VE'd me standing up but she wouldn't have seen much...

BP and position i would hope they could see or feel standing/sitting/however.

Starlight - If someone comes in labour I do like to do an initial palpation so I can confirm what is coming first. If it's an undiagnosed breech then I want to be prepared. And if the baby is transverse (sideways) then it's not going to come out the normal route! Women come in all shapes and sizes so it's not always easy to tell by looking. It's also best practice so I can get a full picture. An experienced midwife should be able to do it very quickly inbetween contractions, on the floor, reclining on a bean bag. You don't have to get on the bed.
Hope everything goes well.
BTW, I am imagining a tent birth here. A wigwam sounds romantic. Not at night though as everyone would be wondering what the shadows were up to!

Okay, so best ask for it to done as soon as is possible!

Thanks.

Didn't Kate Aldridge in the Archers have Phoebe in a tent at Glastonbury? It all sounds very Ina May!

It won't be Ina May. It will be St John's Ambulance or paramedics attending their first real live birth with less experience than me and jabbing me with needles.

I suppose (although my life is so chaotic that I haven't thought this far ahead) that it might be sensible to warn the local maternity unit. I doubt they'd consider a tent birth though. BTW it IS a Bell Tent so a bit like a wigwam, but no fire.

Oooh, a bell tent . Perhaps you could pack a paddling pool as an impromptu birthing pool, although it would be tough to boil a tiny camping kettle approximately 4 million times on a trangia. That would be an amazing birth story, but perhaps best to warn the maternity unit just in case .

Oh no. I'd make sure I was the centre of attention and get the whole campsite boiling their kettles. They can then all bring gifts for the baby forming an orderly line!

Whilst I sit on my camping rug breastfeeding and looking radiant!

Looking all dewy and glowing with oddly perfect hair in the manner of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller wafting about at festivals?